In a tragic escalation of violence in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, three individuals lost their lives and multiple others sustained injuries during clashes between the Kuki and Naga communities on Friday. This incident marks a significant uptick in tensions that have been simmering between these ethnic groups in the region.

According to reports, the deceased included two members of the Kuki community and a Tangkhul Naga, with the latter being part of the dominant ethnic group in Ukhrul. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights has alleged that the violence erupted early in the morning when armed men from the Tangkhul Naga community launched an assault on the Kuki villages of Mullam and Shongphal while the residents were still asleep. The attack reportedly involved gunfire that killed two local “village volunteers,” a term used to refer to armed civilians tasked with safeguarding their communities amid ongoing ethnic unrest.

Eyewitness accounts and reports indicate that the attackers did not just inflict casualties but also set fire to more than a dozen homes, leaving many families displaced. The two victims, identified as L Sitlhou and P Haolai, were found wearing camouflage clothing and were discovered with gunshot wounds. In response to the assault, the Kuki community stated that they defended themselves using licensed hunting weapons and were able to repel the attackers, claiming to have neutralized one of the assailants.

In a counter-narrative, the central command of the Naga Village Guard accused armed Kuki extremists of opening fire on their patrolling members near the villages of Sirakhong and Sinakeithei. This back-and-forth exchange of accusations underscores the deeply entrenched mistrust and animosity that has developed between the two ethnic groups, further complicating any prospects for peace in the region.

The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, which has seen similar clashes since May 2023, highlights the fragility of communal harmony in the state. Both communities have faced significant loss and trauma, and incidents like these only serve to exacerbate the situation. As local leaders call for calm, the looming question remains: how can peace be achieved in a region fraught with historical grievances and present-day tensions?